differences between written and spoken

7/28/2019 Differences Between Written and Spoken

1/3

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPOKEN AND

WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Spoken Language Written Language

1. Extra lingual information may bederived-

sex, age, class, etc. Faster spontaneous off-the-top of the head. More ambiguous and immediate.Can be planned.

1. Less extra-lingual information can be clarified e.g. childs writing.

Slower prepared

Can refer back at random

2. Feedback

i) Oral: (sound): I see, giggles.

ii) Visual: nods, smiles, clock-watching,gestures, bewildered expressions etc

[Extra-Linguistic} body language,

watching, gestures.

iii) Para-linguistic: Mood more easily

recognised.

iv) Special case: telephone conversation novisual feedback.

2 Feedback

i) Delayed feedback

ii) All types of feedback in other column absent

iii) Balance of different types of sentences depending on effect required.

3. Grammatical Features :

i) incomplete structures

ii) interrupted structures

iii) altered structures

iv) spoken (voiced) pauses

v) Long meandering compound sentencesusing and.

3. Grammatical Features

Features mentioned in opposite column aretidied up.

i) Time allows re-reading andcorrecting

ii) Punctuation helps bring order.

4. Vocabulary

Tendency to use:

i) slang and more simple words eg doctor v.

4. Vocabulary

Tendency to use:

i) formal words slang avoided


2/3

medical practitioner

ii) imprecise references

eg. in time, soon, later, in a minute, refer to peopleas them/they.

iii) swear words

iv) colloquial

v) limited vocabulary

vi) often more monosyllabic words

vii) use of fillers

viii) dialect/accent/regional words

ii) technical words; eg legal jargon

iii) more precision eg. former, latter,above

iv) swear words usually avoided

v) educated language

vi) time taken to select correct word

vii) polysyllabic words

5. Phonological Features :

i) Intonation: This can alter the meaningconsiderably

ii) Pauses: These can be used for stress,climax, or may occur prior to selection of a hard-to-find word.

iii) Speed: May provide information on theconfidence/nervousness/urgency of the speaker.

5. Phonological Features:

i) Intonation: Some direct speech canconvey this (eg he said threateningly) and notalways clearly.

ii) Pauses: These can be conveyed by punctuation, but punctuation is only anapproximation to pausing.

iii) Speed: Not relevant.

6. Functions:

The purpose of spoken language involves more than just the communication of ideas.

Includes:

- getting things done

- letting off steam

- filling in embarrassing gaps

Great amount of repetition saying the samething

several times in different ways.

6. Functions:

i) Functions mentioned in oppositecolumn are

either irrelevant in a written context or cannot be

conveyed in the same way. e.g. anger must be

expressed in a more controlled way.

ii) Some written language intended to bespoken

(spoken prose) eg notice bulletins,formal prayers,

play scripts etc.


3/3

Argument has more logical development.

Logical development of ideas

Argument is easier to follow.

Source:Speech New Zealand. August 2008

top of page

differences between written and spoken

Documents